Provinces

Jiangsu's name is a compound of the first elements of the names of the two cities of Jiangning (now Nanjing) and Suzhou. Since the Sui and Tang dynasties, Jiangsu has been a national economic and commercial center, partly due to the construction of the Grand Canal. Cities...

The name "Anhui" derives from the names of two cities: Anqing and Huizhou. The abbreviation for Anhui is "Chinese: 皖" after the historical State of Wan, Mount Wan, and the Wan river. It is one of the country’s smallest provinces. The Yellow Mountains or Huangshan...

Jiangxi province is centered on the Gan River valley, which historically provided the main north-south transport route of south China. The corridor along the Gan River is one of the few easily traveled routes through the otherwise mountainous and rugged...

Fujian province on the southeast coast of mainland China is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. The province is also known historically as Min, for the “seven Min tribes” that inhabited the area during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE). Its capital is Fuzhou, while...

History and People The history of the province goes back to ancient times. Neolithic Hemudu Cultural Ruins dating back as early 7000 years ago is regarded as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. During the Spring and the Autumn...

Shandong in eastern China has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural and religious center for Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism. Shandong literally means "east...

Gansu is a landlocked province in Northwest China. Lanzhou, a well-known ancient city in China, is the capital of Gansu. It is the second largest city in northwest China, and also the political, economic and cultural center of the province. The State of Qin originated in...

Historically, Ningxia was a frequent seat of war and incursions by non-Chinese tribes. The region south of the Huang He was incorporated into the Qin empire in the 3rd century BCE, at which time walls were built throughout the area. Irrigation canals on...

Qinghai is located on the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. The Yellow River originates in the southern part of the province, while the Yangtze and Mekong have their sources in the southwestern part. Qinghai is separated by the Riyue Mountain into pastoral and agricultural zones in the...

Inner Mongolia is a vast territory that stretches in a great crescent for some 1,490 miles (2,400 km) across northern China. Its capital is Hohhot (Huhehaote). Han (Chinese) constitute the bulk of the population, and the largest minority population is that of the Mongols. Minor...